Martin J. Byrne arrived in the nation’s capital on August 6, 1861 and the young schoolteacher-turned-soldier from Carbondale, Pennsylvania found Washington to be an armed camp. All around him, soldiers marched and drilled and mounted patrols monitored the movement of soldiers and civilians alike.

The 1st Pennsylvania Light Artillery, the unit that Byrne serving in as a 1st Lieutenant, had traveled from Harrisburg, through Baltimore, and arrived in the nation’s capital as part of a vast, growing army assembling in Washington in the wake of the disasters of July 1861.

In a letter to his parents, later published in his hometown newspaper, Byrne describes his travels and his opinions on military life, which he found exhilarating and good for his health.

From the Carbondale Advance, August 17, 1861

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CAMP NEAR THE ARSENAL 

WASHINGTON, 

Aug. 11, 1861. 

My Dear Father and Mother: 

We are encamped, as you may see by the heading of my letter, near the beautiful city of Washington. Our camp is situated on the banks of the Potomac, below the Long Bridge, and we are receiving as fast as possible the proper equipments of our batteries, viz: horses, rifled cannon, twelve pounders, sabres, etc. 

Each successive day a battery will leave for the brigade under the command of General McCall. 

Our trip from Harrisburg was both pleasant and agreeable. We left the evening of Monday, the 5th inst., traveling slowly all night and next day, and reached Washington on the evening of the 6th inst. The citizens of Baltimore received us grumly and in silence.

No cheers broke forth as our long line of eight batteries drew near the depot. Our regiment of twelve hundred strong, no doubt, enforcing that respect that would not be voluntarily given. 

We also stopped about half an hour at the Relay House, the scene of General Butler’s exploits. All along the road far above Baltimore, and between there and Washington, pickets and guards are stationed, and cheer after cheer was given by our troops, echoed and re-echoed all along the road by the foot soldiers or infantry and cavalry that guard it. 

On our route we found a small infant, that caused some contention amongst the companies, as to which should adopt it. It was finally settled that Company “A” should be the lucky possessor, the finder belonging to that company. 

Military discipline is exceedingly strict here. Mounted Police patrol the streets of Washington at all times and all hours, arresting every soldier abroad without a pass, from the commanding officer of his regiment. Officers are also subject to the same restriction. 

I enjoy this mode of life exceedingly well, my health is excellent, and I believe I have gained about twenty pounds since I left Carbondale.

We bathe almost daily in the waters of the Potomac, spend a great portion of the time in drilling, in which I take as much pleasure as possible. 

Write soon and let me know how all are. 

Give my best respects to all friends and acquaintances, etc. 

Ever your affectionate son, 

M. J. BYRNE, 

1st Lieut. Co. C., 1st Artillery Pa. R.C. 

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Featured Image: Several soldiers and their dog at the Washington Arsenal during the Civil War – (LOC)

Read the previous letter from the Letters from War: 1861 series.

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This is part of an ongoing series called “Letters from War: 1861” that will share correspondence written on the front lines during the turbulent first year of the Civil War.

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